After a brilliant season we cap it off with getting into the Europa League!! I can't ****ing wait!!!!
Southampton have qualified for the 2015/16 Europa League following their record-breaking Premier League campaign. Ronald Koeman’s side, who finished seventh in the Barclays Premier League, have qualified for next season’s European competition thanks to Arsenal’s win against Aston Villa in the FA Cup final. Saints will enter the competition at the third qualifying round stage, meaning their season will start on Thursday 30th July. The second leg will take place on Thursday 6th August. The draw for the third qualifying round will take place on Friday 17th July in Nyon, Switzerland. Should Saints progress, they will then face another two-legged play-off game. The draw for the play-off round will take place on Friday 7th August – the day before the start of the 2015/16 Premier League season. The first leg will be played on Thursday 20th August, with the return leg scheduled for exactly a week later. Progression from the play-off round would see Saints qualify for the group stages of the competition, with the draw to take place in Monaco on Friday 28th August. The first group stage game will be played on Thursday 17th September. Read more at http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/news/arti...uropa-league-2476375.aspx#BliRpjPdRE7CCsdK.99
League one in 2011, European football in 2015. What a rise. People can slate the Europa League, but I can't wait for Jose to lead the way out under the lights at St Marys !
Last season Hull played Trencin in the 3rd qualifying round (won 2-1 on aggregate) and Lokeren in the play-off round (lost on away goals 2-2 on aggregate). Spurs meanwhile played AEL Limassol in the play-off round (won 5-1 on aggregate) and were in the post of first seeds in the group stage. Everton went straight into the group stage, and were in the pot of third seeds. The season before that, Swansea played Malmo in the 3rd qualifying round (won 3-0 on aggregate) and Petrolul Ploiesti in the play-off round (won 6-3 on aggregate). They were in the post of second seeds in the group stage. Spurs meanwhile played Dinamo Tbilisi in the play-off round (won 8-0 on aggregate) and were in the post of first seeds in the group stage. Wigan went straight into the group stage, and were in pot of second seeds. So if next season roughly follows this pattern, we should hopefully not face too much issue with these two qualifying rounds (in terms of standard of opposition - I think Hull and Swansea were both seeded, so I see no reason why we would not be too on that basis), and will then find ourselves either in pot two or pot three come the group stage should we get there.
So even our first league game of the season will have to be Sunday, but at least we get a bye to the third round of the league cup Yes, we qualified via the back door, but like Ronald I'm very proud of the club. Our season performances deserved this reward
Cant wait for this. So happy the little old 'firesale' saints have made it to europe. Another massive congratulations to everyone from Kat, Ralph, Les, Ron down to every player, fan and staff member. From league 1 to Europe within 5 years, unbelievable really.
Katharina's son/relative has just posted a photo of the Saints badge with the Europa League logo. The accompanying message says "Bring it on!" with a red love-heart.
We aren't the only Saints to reach Europe today: St. Johnstone are in the Europa League qualifiers too after Inverness won the Scottish Cup.
Yeah, of the 25 clubs entering at the third rd qualifying stage saints are currently ranked 11th. With clubs from Italy & holland still to be confirmed. 33 clubs will come from the earlier qualifying rounds and only 4 are ranked above saints. So of the 58 clubs in the 3rd round saints are likely to be seeded around 17th/18th The next play off round might see Saints lose their seeded status. Of the 44 teams in the play off round, 15 of them are losers from the 3rd rd champions league qualifier. At least half of those teams are likely to be ranked higher than saints and if the 3rd round goes to form saints could be ranked 25th and not seeded. That could potentially pair us with Dortmund or Bilbao But that's all a long way off yet
